THE Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has slammed the Directorate of State Services (DSS) for causing ‘unwarranted tension’ in the country with its claim that some persons were planning to install an interim government to undermine democratic governance in the country.
In a communique issued by the NGF and signed by its chairman, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, after its fourth meeting on Friday, March 31, the governors charged the DSS to arrest the persons behind the alleged plot.
The governors condemned any unconstitutional means of regime change and pledged their commitment to continue to defend Nigeria’s democracy as elected leaders.
The governors said of the DSS alarm on the purported interim government: “The forum believes that issuing statements without arrests is akin to heating up the polity and causing unwarranted tension in the country.”
They called on the DSS to do its job by immediately arresting and prosecuting all those involved in the plot as a matter of urgency.
Meanwhile, the governors restated their commitment to engaging with all stakeholders and exploring all legal channels to ensure that the Federal Government releases states allocation of stamp duty monies currently in its custody to the nation’s 36 states.
The governors also congratulated their colleagues who were re-elected, as well as others who were newly elected during the governorship election conducted on May 18.
While acknowledging that the election was imperfect, they promised to deploy lessons learnt from the exercise to strengthen the nation’s democracy and electoral processes.
On implementing the National Development Plan (2021-2025), the governors nominated six governors to represent the country’s six geopolitical zones in the National Steering Committee. They are North Central – Governor of Kwara State, North East – Governor of Bauchi State, North West – Governor of Zamfara State, South-South – Governor of Edo State, South East – Governor of Anambra State, and South West – Governor of Ekiti State.
The governors also welcomed the cancellation of the proposed privatization of five National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) and the withdrawal of the legal suit between the 36 states and the Federal Government from the Federal High Court.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org